Digital Commons Network^™

A Bioarchaeological Overview Of The Late Woodland Period Gooden Mound Group, Fulton County, Illinois, Aaron M. Durchholz

Theses and Dissertations

Extensive research in paleopathology has documented adverse effects accompanying a shift in subsistence strategy from largely nomadic, hunting and gathering lifestyles to those of more sedentary, agrarian systems. Comparative assessment of the human skeletal remains of early foragers and later farmers recovered from archaeological sites around the world have consistently demonstrated a decrease in average age at death in the latter.

Across the pre-Columbian North American Midwest, the transitional period between the Late Woodland and Mississippian periods, sometimes referred to as the terminal or Mississippian Acculturated Late Woodland, portended establishment of semi-permanent to permanent hamlets, increasingly reliant upon the adoption …

Perceptions Of The Transition Process For Rural Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disabilities And Their Parents, Jennifer Shaw

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitatively-driven parallel mixed methods study was to examine how culturally and linguistically diverse students with emotional and behavioral disabilities and their families experience the transition planning process. Using similar instrumentation, this approximate replication study modeled a previous qualitative study conducted by Trainor (2005). A diverse participant group was recruited to gain a better understanding of the multifaceted strengths and needs during the transition process for students with EBD with intersecting identities. Key findings included similarities and differences in the knowledge and perception of the transition planning process among parents and students that reflected the interplay between …

Female Genital Cutting In Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kenya: A Qualitative Interview Study, Melon Jepchumba Tanui

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study focuses on women from Elgeyo-Marakwet county in Kenya, several of whom have undergone what has come to be referred to by the Western world as “female genital mutilation” (FGM). This procedure “involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia” or inflicting any other damaging injury on “the female genital organs for non-medical reasons” (WHO 2022: para. 1). The residents of this county are Kalenjin speakers of Keiyo and Marakwet sub-dialects. The ceremonial process, which lasts from days to a month, is called Tumdop Tibiik, meaning the initiation of girls. (For definitions of Kalenjin …

Sexual Harassment And Employee Identification In Radio Broadcasting, Jillene Krause

Communication

Sexual harassment is often vaguely defined in policy and the purpose of this study was to learn if employees perceive sexual harassment in vague or specific terms. Exploring radio broadcasting employees was a new area of exploration for the multiple ways employees may identify with their employer: professional, organizational, and group identification (Lammers, Atouba, & Carlson, 2013). For this study I primarily drew on interviews with 17 radio broadcasting employees about sexual harassment definitions and employee identification (profession, organization, and group). A survey instrument was used to collect demographic data and to collect baseline data for identification. Results show that …

Heat-Treated Soybean Meal In Beef Cattle Diets, Grady Gullickson

Animal Sciences

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate replacing dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) with heat-treated soybean (TSBM) at increasing rates in forage-based diets on steer growth performance, nutrient flow, and digestibility. Experiment 1: 70 angus-based steers were utilized in a generalized randomized block design for an 85-d growing study at the NDSU Beef Cattle Research Complex. Experiment 2: five fistulated Jersey steers fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were utilized in a 4 × 5 row column design for 56 d to measure nutrient flow and digestibility. Diets were formulated to replace DDGS, included in the diet at 16% …

To Correct And Protect: Extending The Masspersonal Communication Model To Social Media Disagreements, Samantha Archer

Communication

In this dissertation, I explore experiences of disagreements on Facebook with strong ties through a theoretical lens of the Masspersonal Communication Model. The goal of this dissertation is to (a) understand how perceptions of personalization and accessibility influence disagreement decisions on Facebook with strong ties and (b) how relationships with the sender impact the decision to engage. I employ semi-structured, in-depth interviews (n = 27) to assess why people engage in disagreements, their motivations for engagement, and the impact of these interactions on their relationship with their strong ties. In doing so, I propose the personalization-accessibility model of online disagreements …

A Bargaining Theory Of Us-China Economic Rivalry: Differentiating The Trade And Technology Wars, Cathy Xuauxuan Wu

Political Science & Geography Faculty Publications

This article examines the outbreak and persistence of US–China economic war, which comprises both the trade war, featured with retaliatory tariffs, and the technology war, featured with restrictions on Chinese access to US technologies. Building on the analytical framework of bargaining and war, I argue that different components of the economic war emerged from distinct causes. The outbreak of the trade war was primarily driven by the information problem, characterized by mutual uncertainty and the lack of effective communications. The technology war was largely a result of the commitment problem driven by the existing power’s concern regarding potential future changes …

Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency: A Metabolic And Genomic Approach To Diagnosis, Kevin E Glinton, Charul Gijavanekar, Abbhirami Rajagopal, Laura P Mackay, Kirt A Martin, Phillip L Pearl, K Michael Gibson, Theresa A Wilson, V Reid Sutton, Sarah H Elsea

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Genomic sequencing offers an untargeted, data-driven approach to genetic diagnosis; however, variants of uncertain significance often hinder the diagnostic process. The discovery of rare genomic variants without previously known functional evidence of pathogenicity often results in variants being overlooked as potentially causative, particularly in individuals with undifferentiated phenotypes. Consequently, many neurometabolic conditions, including those in the GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) catabolism pathway, are underdiagnosed. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD, OMIM #271980) is a neurometabolic disorder in the GABA catabolism pathway. The disorder is due to bi-allelic pathogenic variants in

The Impact Of Direct Inoculation Of Ascites Into Blood Culture Bottles On Ascites Culture Positivity, Tyler Brehm, Todd Lasco, Mayar Al Mohajer

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

OBJECTIVE: Assess whether direct inoculation of ascites into blood culture bottles would improve ascites culture yield.

DESIGN: Pre-post-study.

SETTING: The study was performed at a quaternary academic medical center in Houston, Texas, including all inpatient and emergency department encounters.

PATIENTS: Ascites cultures collected from November 2020 to December 2022 were reviewed and screened for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Patients were excluded if a prior ascites culture from the same patient was already included in the study or if there was evidence of secondary bacterial peritonitis.

INTERVENTION: In the pre-intervention period, ascites cultures were collected into a sterile container and inoculated onto/into …

Applications In Harnessing The Power Of Behavioral Nudge Theory, Ayesha Tasnim

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

This research encompasses two experimental studies aimed at exploring the potential of behavioral nudges to instigate positive change. The first experiment evaluates the use of visual cues, such as posters and footprints, to nudge individuals towards choosing stairs over elevators, promoting physical activity. The second delves into the psychological impact of personalized praise on college students' motivation, efficacy, and confidence, correlating these factors with academic performance. By integrating quantitative and qualitative research methods, the studies intend to assess the effectiveness of these behavioral nudges in directing behavior toward desirable outcomes. Contributing to the expanding discourse on behavioral economics and nudge …

International Grain Origin Switching: Contract Washouts And Embedded Switching Options, Caleb Hauck

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Changing dynamics in the international grain trading industry have led to a rise in two new contracting practices colloquially termed washouts and switching options and formally defined as contract washouts and embedded origin switching options. When spatial arbitrage opportunities exist, grain buying firms switch from one origin to another. This thesis documents the increased frequency with which these contract practices have been used and examines the factors that incentivize firms to use them. Using data from 2018 to 2023, two models are developed with a binomial lattice that value these contracting terms. The results indicate that these practices have significant …

Gsk-3Β As A Potential Coordinator Of Anabolic And Catabolic Pathways In Hepatitis C Virus Insulin Resistance, Gokul C Das, F Blaine Hollinger

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

INTRODUCTION: Chronic hepatitis C infection can result in insulin resistance (IR). We have previously shown that it occurs through the interaction of pathways for glucose homeostasis, insulin signaling, and autophagy. But it is not known how soon the pathways are activated and how IR is related to the signals generated by catabolic and anabolic conditions occurring in infected cells. We have extended our studies to a cell culture system mimicking acute infection and to downstream pathways involving energy-sensor AMPK and nutrient-sensor mTOR that are active in catabolic and anabolic processes within the infected cells.

METHODS: Huh7 liver cells in culture …

Centering Students’ Rights In Our Democracy: A Case Study From Maryland’S Eastern Shore, Samantha C. Pownall

Articles & Chapters

No abstract provided.

Chapter 17. Approaches To Inclusive Recruitment: Practical And Hopeful, Adriana Poo, Anamika Megwalu, Nick Szydlowski, Kathryn Blackmer Reyes, Peggy Cabrera, Ann Agee

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

San José State University (SJSU) is located in downtown San José, a city of over one million residents in California’s San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the west coast of the United States. It is also the founding campus of the California State University (CSU) system that comprises twenty-three campuses, making it the largest four-year public university system in the country. SJSU has nine colleges and sixty-seven departments, which offer bachelor’s, master’s, and a growing number of doctoral degree programs. It enrolls over 36,000 students and employs more than 2,100 faculty members. …

Erratum To: Reconfigurations In Brain Networks Upon Awakening From Slow Wave Sleep: Interventions And Implications In Neural Communication (Network Neuroscience), Cassie J. Hilditch, Kanika Bansal, Ravi Chachad, Lily R. Wong, Nicholas G. Bathurst, Nathan H. Feick, Amanda Santamaria, Nita L. Shattuck, Javier O. Garcia, Erin E. Flynn-Evans

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

After publication of our paper Reconfigurations in brain networks upon awakening from slow wave sleep: Interventions and implications in neural communication, we noticed an error in our condition labels that required some revision of figures and text and some new interpretations throughout the manuscript. The error was a consequence of the double-blind nature of the original experimentation which contained two interventions: (1) a blue-enriched light intervention, as originally mentioned; and (2) an olfactory odorant condition. In review of previous analyses and presentations of the data, there was a time when non-descriptive labels (e.g., “A”, “B”) were accidentally swapped, indicating the …

Opening The Black Box: Carbon-Footprint Calculators, Meat Consumption, And The “Wicked Problem” Of Metric Governance, E. Melanie Dupuis, Dustin Mulvaney

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Carbon-footprint calculators are widely used as communication and education tools, designed to make people aware of the ways their personal actions contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions. However, they have come under criticism for emphasizing individual behavior versus structural change. We extend this critique to argue that carbon-footprint calculators are a form of “metric governance” that not only disciplines users but also constrains their abilities to engage with the complexities of climate change and social action. We focus on a particularly wicked problem of carbon-metric governance: livestock greenhouse-gas emissions. We show that carbon-footprint calculators black box and fix the complex politics and …

Research On Teachers Of Color And Indigenous Teachers: Developing And Fortifying Policies That Diversify The Educator Workforce, Conra Gist, Travis J. Bristol, Saili Kulkarni

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This special issue expands upon the Handbook of Research on Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers (Gist & Bristol, 2022a) and the practitioner-focused Phi Delta Kappan special issue, “Learning from the Voices of Black, Indigenous and People of Color Educators: Charting New Directions for Research, Policy, and Practice” (Gist & Bristol, 2021). The co-created articles in this special issue highlight the combined expertise of policy makers and education researchers. While the Handbook featured empirical research, and the Phi Delta Kappan special issue featured research briefs and teacher testimonies, the policy-driven articles in this special issue explore how research can be …

Jim Woglom's Timeline, Jim Wolglom

What Happened Here

This timeline was a part of Jim Woglomd's official chair's report to the Senate. This timeline was created with the intention of communicating and documenting his experience while correcting mischaracterizations of some events.

Emergency And Disaster Preparedness For Individuals Who Use Augmentative And Alternative Communication: A Pilot Study On Supported Planning Using A Toolkit, Andrea Barton-Hulsey, Miriam C. Boesch, Yoosun Chung, Tina Caswell, Amy Miller Sonntag, Wendy Quach

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Purpose: When emergencies or disasters arise, individuals who use augmenta-tive and alternative communication (AAC) are particularly vulnerable. It is critical that individuals who use AAC are supported to make decisions that impact their own lives and are able to communicate during such a crisis. Preparedness efforts that include a plan around communication needs and supports are necessary for ensuring that individuals who use AAC are able to understand options that ensure personal safety and express their needs during a time of crisis. Method: Qualitative methods were used to identify and describe the experi-ences of two young adults who use AAC …

Understanding Primary Care Physician Perspectives On The Diagnosis And Management Of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Qualitative Study, Natalia I Heredia, Jemima C John, Sonia Singh, Jessica P Hwang, Larkin L Strong, Maya Balakrishnan, Lorna H Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are well suited to manage patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the limited, existing research suggests inadequate knowledge about the natural history, diagnostic methods, and management of NAFLD. The purpose of this qualitative study is to further understand the knowledge and practices for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD among PCPs. We conducted in-depth interviews with PCPs in the Greater Houston area, addressing current clinical practices used for diagnosing and managing NAFLD, as well as the perceptions of the PCPs regarding the burden of NAFLD on patients. We recorded interviews, transcribed them, coded transcripts, …

Beyond Heteronormativity And The Gender Binary: Inclusivity In Rape Myth Acceptance Scale Design And Sexual Violence Bystander Intervention Programming, Melanie Fierstine

Education

Sexual violence perpetuates inequalities based on a range of factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, class, age, sexuality, and ability status. However, the study of sexual violence in these areas has been limited leading to a lack of knowledge about its role in perpetuating social inequality. Understanding bystander intervention and its effects on violence prevention is complex and unclear. Three studies were conducted to investigate the use of language in the Green Dot Violence Prevention programming and the design of a sex and gender-inclusive rape myth acceptance scale. Study 1 employs Critical Discourse Analysis to analyze the language used in the …

Enhancing The Student Nurse Clinical Experience Through Collaborative Academic-Hospital Partnerships: The Piloting And Psychometric Testing Of A New Instrument To Measure Nursing Student Perceptions Of Nursing Staff During Clinical Learning Experiences, Charys Kunkel

Education

There is a critical national nursing workforce shortage, with estimates of over 200,000 new job openings for Registered Nurses (RNs) annually through 2031 (AACN, 2022). These forecasted workforce needs challenge nursing programs to increase student enrollment (Dowling et al., 2021) while maintaining high-quality education standards. Student learning is facilitated by collaborative academic healthcare practices that provide active learning environments for students to engage in direct patient care under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse. The interactions between students and mentors within the clinical environment are essential for cultivating a sense of belonging while fostering the development of the professional …

Evaluating Ai Literacy In Academic Libraries: A Survey Study With A Focus On U.S. Employees, Leo S. Lo

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

This survey investigates artificial intelligence (AI) literacy among academic library employees, predominantly in the United States, with a total of 760 respondents. The findings reveal a moderate self-rated understanding of AI concepts, limited hands-on experience with AI tools, and notable gaps in discussing ethical implications and collaborating on AI projects. Despite recognizing the benefits, readiness for implementation appears low among participants. Respondents emphasize the need for comprehensive training and the establishment of ethical guidelines. The study proposes a framework defining core components of AI literacy tailored for libraries. The results offer insights to guide professional development and policy formulation as …

Using Early Responses To Wikipedia And Google To Consider Chatgpt, David A. Hurley

University Libraries & Learning Sciences Faculty and Staff Publications

ChatGPT and other generative AIs are raising important issues in information literacy that are unique, but not without precedent. The rise of Google and Wikipedia were accompanied by similar paradigm shifts. Exploring librarians’ early responses to these tools allows us to use that history to inform our approach to generative AIs. This exploratory study looks at social media posts, including email listservs, as well as sampling the professional literature to see librarians’ reactions in terms of impacts on the profession and the resulting pedagogical approaches to teaching information literacy in the early days of Google and Wikipedia.

From Pages To Places: Situating Kelly Et Al.’S The Robot Zoo: A Mechanical Guide To The Way Animals Work In Real-Life Context, Nasih Alam

English

The Robot Zoo: A Mechanical Guide to the Way Animals Work (1994), written by John Kelly, Dr. Philip Whitfield and Obin, consists of textual descriptions and visual images of sixteen robot animals. Among them, my discussion of Giraffe, Platypus and Rhino highlights the fact that they are endangered animals who are facing extinction due to climate change, human encroachment, poaching, illegal trade, and a lack of biodiversity. Although my other subjects of discussion such as House Fly, Grasshopper, Chameleon and Bat do not necessarily face any immediate extinction, this paper shows how scientists are using the heights and zips of …

Teachers’ Perspectives And Practices For Ameliorating Dysregulation In School-Aged Children Through Trauma-Informed Education Practice, Linda Lane

Theses

The research investigates Western Australian (WA) teachers’ understanding of the impact of trauma-informed education practice. The main research question, which forms the basis of the study, is How do the trauma-informed education practices, currently being used in Western Australian public schools, impact the capacity of children to self-regulate their behaviour? The literature examines the impact of unresolved trauma on the developing child and reviews the trauma-informed education practices that are designed to ameliorate the negative effects of trauma. The research also investigates the trauma-informed practices that are currently being used in WA public school classrooms, as described by teachers, and …

Technological Advancements In Brunei’S Local Agriculture And Fisheries Companies: An Exploratory Study Based On Field Observations, Muhammad Firdaus Mujibuddin Syah Mustafa, Navaranjan Namasivayam, Hong Shyang Pei, Fatnin Farhanah Alihan, Amni Sahilah Sahrullamzah, Khairina Umairah Takiyaudin

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

This exploratory study, through seven field observations and interviews, investigates the technological advancements transforming Brunei's agricultural landscape in pursuit of local production augmentation and self-sufficiency. It confronts challenges with emerging technologies like aquaponics, hydroponics, fertigation systems, closed-house poultry systems, and UV lighting, which hold promise for enhanced farming practices. The research provides a comprehensive assessment of current practices, including livestock management advancements, underscoring their potential to boost productivity, optimize resource use, and promote sustainable agriculture. Furthermore, it discusses the broader implications for industry standards, job employability, and alignment with Brunei's Vision 2035. The findings contribute invaluable insights, advocating for strategic …

Food Labelling Practices Of Local Products In Brunei Darussalam, Asrarul A. Noraidi, Zikri Zulkifli, Aida M. Basri, Ernina Rani, Beston F. Nore

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Food labelling is an essential feature for food product marketing and is mainly regulated by national food authority. Food package labelling provides information on product composition, usage instructions, shelf-life safety, storage conditions, and nutritional profile. The purpose of this study is to review the scope of the current food labelling system used in local food products. We surveyed 3 different food categories: 1) processed meat products, 2) bread, and 3) snacks, and examined the nutritional labelling criteria with respect to the carbohydrates, protein, and particularly sodium (salt) content. A broad market survey was carried out across Brunei and Muara district, …

Youth Resilience Toward Climate Smart Agriculture Technology Adoption In Brunei Darussalam, Rosita Hassan, Wida S. Suhaili, Beston F. Nore, Mohamad A. Basuni

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Climate change and food security are critical issues to be addressed, nationally and globally, to reach sustainable agricultural development goals to feed the growing human population. The great challenge is to adapt to the climate change and in the meantime increase food production with sustainable farming practices that require farmers to have a paradigm shift toward climate smart agricultural technology (CSAT). Encouraging farmers to adopt and implement CSAT have become a priority for governmental policy making programmes. The question is what are the measures that can be taken for Brunei to leapfrog into this technology bandwagon to revitalise farmers for …

Fostering Corporate Resilience: Assessing Risk Management Committee Effectiveness In Malaysia’S Telecommunication And Media Sector Pre- And During The Covid-19, Flicia Rimin, Siti Rahayu Beli, Anastasiah Harbi, Imbarine Bujang, Jamaliah Said

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted organizations, underscoring the critical role of financial factors in determining performance. Maintaining a healthy financial stance during crises necessitates effective risk management, prompting the exploration of a Risk Management Committee (RMC) as a focal point for addressing risk issues and managing internal controls. A study spanning 2017 to 2021 assessed 11 listed companies in the Telecommunication and Media Sector, revealing that a combined RMC did not enhance financial performance, indicating its ineffectiveness during the crisis. The study advocates for a separate risk management committee due to the audit committee’s limitations in performing both functions. …